Hmmm, what RAM speed should I go for?

[Coke Robot]

What's up?!

I've been debating on getting a RAM upgrade from 4 gig DDR3 to 8 gigs, especially since DDR3 RAM is currently still fairly low price-wise. The RAM I have now is rated for 1600MHz, and after many weeks of maxing out a system overclock, I still haven't gotten the RAM to operate at 1600MHz. Maybe I'm missing something with it, but whatever.

The RAM I'm looking at is an OCZ kit of 8 gigs rated for 1600MHz, but knowing that I haven't been able to get to that speed, is it worth it to go for that or a kit that is rated at 1333MHz? I know that common overclocking knowledge dictates that RAM should be rated for around 1600 for stable overclocking, but can I get the 1333MHz kit and overclock it to where the system is stable or stick with the 1600 kit?

Thanks!

 

[Wishmaster]

Many AMD CPUs have issues going above 1333. Even more so if all 4 DIMMS are full.


I think the higher speeds help in Overclocking the older Intels more than AMD.

But, I havent messed with or OVerclocked a AMD system in a while, so things may have changed slightly.


But, if youve found the limits of the system and the RAM is doing fine at or below its rated speed, moving to faster RAM will not help you at all. Youll still have the same limits.
Filling all the DIMM slots may actually hurt more than helps as well.

 

[cmd187]

I'd get something like Kingston's HyperX 8GB kit, rated at 1600MHz. This assumes that your chipset and motherboard supports this speed.

 

[stormy13]

Wishmaster that "problem" is by design, the memory controller is designed to only work with 1333 MHz,

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING AMD AM3 CPU's and RAM SPEEDS

 

[Wishmaster]

Wishmaster that "problem" is by design, the memory controller is designed to only work with 1333 MHz,

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING AMD AM3 CPU's and RAM SPEEDS

Good info. Thanks.

 

[Coke Robot]

Wishmaster that "problem" is by design, the memory controller is designed to only work with 1333 MHz,

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING AMD AM3 CPU's and RAM SPEEDS

Hmm, wow, that is fairly interesting. Thanks for that.

 

[Zen00]

As it is, the general advice I was given was, "buy one speed above where your normally going to be". In reality, it's all about the timings, try to get one with as low of timings as possible.

 

[Coke Robot]

As it is, the general advice I was given was, "buy one speed above where your normally going to be". In reality, it's all about the timings, try to get one with as low of timings as possible.

I looked for some kits yesterday and it seems that advice is actually pretty good. The lowest I found was 7-7-7-21.

 

[Zen00]

Lowest timings at the lowest voltage = best overclocking potential.

My RAM is rated 8-8-8-24, I currently have it at 7-7-6-19 (I could probably go lower if I started messing with the voltage more)

 

[Zepher]

Why not use that money on a faster processor?

 

[setan berdasi]

Why not use that money on a faster processor?

Agree,.. 8gb RAM?
Athlon II X2 240?

Waisted money

Did you still use onboard graphic card?

 

[max51]

What's up?!

I've been debating on getting a RAM upgrade from 4 gig DDR3 to 8 gigs, especially since DDR3 RAM is currently still fairly low price-wise. The RAM I have now is rated for 1600MHz, and after many weeks of maxing out a system overclock, I still haven't gotten the RAM to operate at 1600MHz. Maybe I'm missing something with it, but whatever.

The RAM I'm looking at is an OCZ kit of 8 gigs rated for 1600MHz, but knowing that I haven't been able to get to that speed, is it worth it to go for that or a kit that is rated at 1333MHz? I know that common overclocking knowledge dictates that RAM should be rated for around 1600 for stable overclocking, but can I get the 1333MHz kit and overclock it to where the system is stable or stick with the 1600 kit?

Thanks!

I thought this link may help you ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards- ASUS M4A78LT-M LE

 

[Maxwell]

Why not use that money on a faster processor?

I agree, you would get a much better speed increase out of upgrading your processor than upgrading your ram.. At the least get an Athlon x4, you will notice a huge difference.

 

[Coke Robot]

Why not use that money on a faster processor?

Agree,.. 8gb RAM?
Athlon II X2 240?

Waisted money

Did you still use onboard graphic card?

I'm actually considering getting a Phenom II quad core, I hear those are a better choice to overclock than athlons. But I do need the extra RAM, virtual machining is b word! I'm still running onboard, yes, I know, that is awful but it does seem to get me through games at decent levels I'm not going to lie.

I also plan to get a dedicated card too this summer, but I soon realized I'd need a PSU upgrade too to run an NVIDIA fermi card, WOW! 399 watts at full blast, my poor 500 watt supply will quietly weep!

 

[Coke Robot]

What's up?!

I've been debating on getting a RAM upgrade from 4 gig DDR3 to 8 gigs, especially since DDR3 RAM is currently still fairly low price-wise. The RAM I have now is rated for 1600MHz, and after many weeks of maxing out a system overclock, I still haven't gotten the RAM to operate at 1600MHz. Maybe I'm missing something with it, but whatever.

The RAM I'm looking at is an OCZ kit of 8 gigs rated for 1600MHz, but knowing that I haven't been able to get to that speed, is it worth it to go for that or a kit that is rated at 1333MHz? I know that common overclocking knowledge dictates that RAM should be rated for around 1600 for stable overclocking, but can I get the 1333MHz kit and overclock it to where the system is stable or stick with the 1600 kit?

Thanks!

I thought this link may help you ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards- ASUS M4A78LT-M LE

The link did help, thanks! But what I do find a bit odd is the QVL for RAM doesn't seem to mention 8 gig kits, but it does with 6 gig kits and I think some were triple channel ones too...odd considering that this board can handle 8 gigs but ASUS doesn't seem to give any help with that. Maybe time to hit up a support line with them? :sarc:

 

[max51]

Why not use that money on a faster processor?

Agree,.. 8gb RAM?
Athlon II X2 240?

Waisted money

Did you still use onboard graphic card?

I'm actually considering getting a Phenom II quad core, I hear those are a better choice to overclock than athlons. But I do need the extra RAM, virtual machining is b word! I'm still running onboard, yes, I know, that is awful but it does seem to get me through games at decent levels I'm not going to lie.

I also plan to get a dedicated card too this summer, but I soon realized I'd need a PSU upgrade too to run an NVIDIA fermi card, WOW! 399 watts at full blast, my poor 500 watt supply will quietly weep!

A good choice of phenom II is the 965 black, i have one running with 8gb kingston hyper x 1600mhz. But had to change the voltage and timeings in the bios as the hyper x is 1.65v and default on all mobos is 1.5v, all runs well and with no problems.

 

[Coke Robot]

Agree,.. 8gb RAM?
Athlon II X2 240?

Waisted money

Did you still use onboard graphic card?

I'm actually considering getting a Phenom II quad core, I hear those are a better choice to overclock than athlons. But I do need the extra RAM, virtual machining is b word! I'm still running onboard, yes, I know, that is awful but it does seem to get me through games at decent levels I'm not going to lie.

I also plan to get a dedicated card too this summer, but I soon realized I'd need a PSU upgrade too to run an NVIDIA fermi card, WOW! 399 watts at full blast, my poor 500 watt supply will quietly weep!

A good choice of phenom II is the 965 black, i have one running with 8gb kingston hyper x 1600mhz. But had to change the voltage and timeings in the bios as the hyper x is 1.65v and default on all mobos is 1.5v, all runs well and with no problems.

Yeah, I've heard the Black editions are pretty bomb, the issue is my mobo can only support processors with a 95 watt TDP, not 125...